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Athens, GA Real Estate News

By Paul & Diane Boykin
(Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens)
This past Saturday being somewhat rainy, we decided to venture out to town.  For awhile we had been meaning to visit the newly restored TRR Cobb House on Hill Street.  This home which had been owned by General Thomas Cobb had been sold and moved to Stone Mountain to be restored there, which never took place.  A few years ago it was moved back to Athens on a lot on Hill Street, close to it's original site.  The docent gave us a complete tour of the house and showed us the improvements and furnishings that they are collecting.  If you go to the website, http://www.trrcobbhouse.org you can take a virtual tour and see what has been accomplished thus far.  After touring the Cobb house we stopped by the Scottish Heritage Festival for a bit and were impressed with the many clan displays andexh...
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Kiplinger.com has released it's 2009 rankings of the 100 best values in public colleges and universities in the U.S. The University of Georgia has been rated #4 for in state students and #14 for out of state students. The schools are ranked first on academic quality and then on a combination of cost and financial aid. The full list of all 100 schools, as well as the criteria for selection, can be found here. The University of Georgia is located in Athens, GA.  Only about 60 miles from Atlanta, Athens, the Classic City, is home to the UGA Bulldogs( the DAWGS), R.E.M, The B-52's, great food and plenty to do. And, as a bonus, real estate in Athens and the surrounding counties is very affordable with the average home price of $182,750.00. There are also plenty of investment opportunities fo...
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By Paul & Diane Boykin
(Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens)
Celebrate your Scottish heritage or simply learn more about it this Saturday, January 24 at the Lyndon House.  This FREE event promises a day packed with activities from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  There will be bagpipe performances, Scottish sing-along, demonstrations on the kilt, tartans, ladies' sashes, Scottish country dances and even a workshop on how to make Haggis.  (This is a traditional Scottish dish that you don't want to know the ingredients).  In the afternoon there will be readings of Robert Burns' poetry.  Throughout the day will be Scottish arts and crafts for childred, athletic games for children, demonstrations of weaving tartans and Scottish clans' display of their tartans and history.  The highlight of the day may be the "bonniest knees contest" at noon.  According to t...
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By Paul & Jerri Stracener
(RE/MAX Associates Athens)
Construction has started on Hotel Indigo on College Avenue in Athens.  It will be a "green" boutique hotel.  There is a model room available for potential guests to view.     This hotel is located near the Lyndon House Arts Center and about 3 blocks to downtown Athens.  The Hotel Indigo will be LEED Gold certified, the highest standard in environmentally sustainable construction.
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By Paul & Jerri Stracener
(RE/MAX Associates Athens)
  In October, 2008, I walked with 3 other RE/MAX agents in the Breast Cancer 3-Day.   The walk was 60 miles over 3 days and we walked in areas that were not really walker friendly, such as on the side of Peachtree Industrial Road in Duluth (with no sidewalks) and on Peachtree Street to downtown Atlanta, which was very nice.  I've found a website that allows you to enter an address and get lots of information about the area. It's www.walkscore.com  I entered my home address and got a walk score of 0.  That's true if you're looking for a store but it is actually a great neighborhood for walking.  Then, I entered our old address and got a score of 11.  That's right for shopping but you'd be walking on the side of major streets, including Hwy. 316.   Our office on Baxter Street got a score ...
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By Paul & Diane Boykin
(Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens)
Any of us who travel Milledge Ave, Prince Ave. and the Cobb/Hill areas regularly see the beautiful old homes and huge trees that Athens has to offer.  Now the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Athens as a top 12 Distinctive Destination.    The Trust said of Athens "The vibrant city of Athens, Georgia, is known for its distinct blend of traditional heritage and trendsetting Southern culture, a mix of historic attractions, a dynamic downtown and a lively music scene".  This award shows the importance of preserving our historic homes, churches and business buildings as something to be appreciated for the ages.  This should attract many visitors to our area as the National Trust promotes its picks on its website, www.preservationnation.org.
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As if being home to the University of Georgia as well as the center of a strong music scene which included the genesis of the the bands R.E.M., The B-52's and Widespread Panic, Athens, GA now has another reason to brag. It has just been named as one of the Dozen Distinctive Detinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (National Trust) has selected 12 communities that exhibit "dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation and revitalization". (See the organizations website for distinct destinations). According to the National Trust "The vibrant city of Athens, Georgia, is known for its distinct blend of traditional heri...
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By Paul & Jerri Stracener
(RE/MAX Associates Athens)
We seem to get a lot of attention here - no wonder, Athens is a great place to live!  The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about Athens being good for retirees.  We see this all the time, people moving from Florida, Tennessee, California and many other areas.  Many times they have researched the "best places to retire" lists and settle in Athens.   See a list of articles recently published about Athens. 
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 The average selling price of home sold in the previous 12 months in Athens-Clarke County was up 5.5% in 2008 from $164,445.00 to $173,985.00. The median sale price was also up about 6.5% from $139,900.00 to $149,000.00 during that same time frame. That is good news for those that sold homes during that time period. However, the number of homes sold during the previous 12 months dropped 35.5% from 1664 units annually to 1073 units. The average number of days on the market increased 10.2% to 167 to 184. Days on Market, average sales price and median sales price figures from November to December were virtually flat. However, sales volume dropped 3.3% during that one month period.      Athens          Date DOM  Average     Median    # sold 1-Jan-08 167  $164,445.00    $139,900.00   1664 1-...
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The Athens-Clarke County unemployment rate dropped slightly in November, from 6.1% in October to 5.9%. However, the rate is still up 2.4% from last November. Overall, the Athens employment scene is better than both the Georgia state unemployment rate of 7.5% and the U.S. national unemployment rate of 6.7% Both the unemployment rate and real estate market, in the Athens-Clarke County area, while affected, are somewhat more stable than either the Georgia and the U.S. figures. The presence of the University of Georgia, and it's ability this year to meet it's budget reductions without any planned layoffs, is a major contributor to that stability. For information on the Athens-Clarke County (and surrounding counties) real estate market, or, for information on the area, don't hesitate to emai...
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 Athens annual home sales volume dropped another 2.8% in Novemeber this year, however, average sales price and median sales price are still holding steady. D.O.M. increased by 4 days or just over 2%. Sales volume has dropped by 33% since the first of the year. Pending sales (not shown on chart) are down from 441 at the end of October to 426 at the end of November.      Athens        Date DOM  Average     Median    # sold 1-Jan-08 167  $164,445.00    $139,900.00   1664 1-Feb-08 167  $164,857.00    $139,900.00   1632 1-Mar-08 171  $166,204.00    $140,000.00   1579 1-Apr-08 172  $165,930.00    $141,000.00   1516 1-May-08 173  $166,500.00    $140,000.00   1484 1-Jun-08 174  $168,257.00    $142,400.00   1382 1-Jul-08 173  $171,767.00    $145,000.00   1321 1-Aug-08 173  $175,821.00    $149,62...
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By Michelle DeRepentigny, Broker Athens, GA
(Success Realty)
Although it's hard to believe, it's time for our free and affordable holiday happenings for the Athens, Georgia area!  With money tight for most everyone this year, rest assured I'll be searching out some of the best holiday fun that is affordable for everyone! Let's start with the Athens, Georgia Parade of Lights 2008 which will be winding it's way through downtown Athens on Thursday, December the 4th at 7pm.  Bring a thermos of hot cocoa, dress warmly and you are set to go.  And ask one of my favorite lenders, Amy Coile of Classic City Mortgage, about her UNEXPECTED appearance in the parade a few years ago.  Cocoa, S'mores & Stories are in store for your kiddies ages 4-8 on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at Rocksprings Park.  Only $1.00 per child but you must call for reservations at 706...
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By Paul & Diane Boykin
(Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens)
This is the week of local Christmas Parades.  The Athens, GA parade is on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. They finish up at the Athens City Hall and have a tree lighting. However, my favorite is the Watkinsville, GA Christmas Parade!  It will be this Saturday, Dec. 6 starting at 11:00 a.m.  It begins on Barnett Shoals Road and continues down Main Street and last year it took about an hour for all of the floats to pass.  This year there are 109 entries and I'm certain that they will include every Boy and Girl Scout in the county plus the Oconee Co. and North Oconee High School marching bands, numerous church floats, lots of antique tractors, horses and miniature horses, local politicians, several businesses and, of course, Santa himself.  You might even find a few bagpipers in kilts...
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By Paul & Diane Boykin
(Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens)
A terrific event coming up on December 16 is the Georgia Children's Chorus performance "Once Upon a Christmas...Music Filled the Air" at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at UGA.  This is the Children's Chorus' 11th holiday season and the concert features a medley of songs that included Ave Maria, The Little Drummer Boy, Silver Bells and Deck the Halls.  There will be multicultural numbers in different languages.  Carol Reeves is the Director and she will be assisted by Principal Accompanist Erica McClellan.  The audience will be encouraged to participate in carol singing.  For more information visit www.georgiachildrenschorus.org or call 706-542-8711
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By Paul & Diane Boykin
(Keller Williams Realty Greater Athens)
There are a ton of events coming up for the Classic City area in December - Here are just a few - keep looking for more in future posts. December 4 & 5 - Idols in Concert for the Holidays - See 4 of the top finalists from seasons 1-7 of American Idol at the Classic Center.  Call 706-357-4444 or go online at www.classiccenter.com for ticket information. December 5-8 at the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlants - see the Nutcracker with sounds of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.  For ticket information call 404-881-2100 or visit www.foxtheater.org. December 7 - 2:00-5:00  Holiday Open House at the State Botanical Gardens.  See the decorated Conservatory, watch puppet shows and have your picture made with Santa & Mrs. Clause.  Enjoy the live music and finish your gift shopping at the gift shop.  Th...
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Fall is a very pleasant and colorful time in the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia in Athens. The temperatures are mild, humidity is almost non-existent and the leaves are starting to turn.   As you are driving into the garden you can see the fall colors showing in the foliage. The Swan River Daisys, Brachycome Iberidifolia, from Australia while still full of color, are starting to die out from the chilly nights. The muhly grass is just starting to exhibit it's colorful fall colors. Other exotic grasses are in full plumage. You can find a bench in a quiet place and contemplate the changing colors. You can study the beautyberry in a mass of bushes or a single branch while you savor the thought of beauty berry jelly. And even as you return to your vehicle in the parking lot, you get rem...
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By Joe Polaneczky
(Classic City Guide)
For more content like this, visit Classic City Guide, your home for Athens, Georgia real estate and culture. With the market being so crazy right now, and prices all over the place, it is only natural to wonder about the value of your home, especially if you thinking about selling.  Intuition is more than likely telling you that there has been some kind of shift in value in the recent past.  Intuition also tells you that if you need to get an accurate assessment, then a solid appraiser will be able to help you evaluate your investment.  However, as counterintuitive as it may seems, most folks don't need to get an appraisal if they are considering marketing their home.  Here's why.  The Athens Regional Area has its share of unique properties (and people!), but most of us live in areas wh...
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As you drive down Whit Davis Rd, just a few hundred yards from Lexington Rd. you can find the World of Wonder Playground. It was constructed in 2004 by over 1600 volunteers taking over 15,000 hours of labor and is the largest volunteer built playground in the state of Georgia. On one side the playground entrance through the caste towers is guarded by Manu the BullDawg and on the other side you will find a plaque dedicated to those who labored and contributed to this wonderful place for children to enjoy themselves.   Manu   The is composed of elevated walkways and climbing structures to both entertain children and encourage physical development and coordination. As well as the standard slide seen in the above picture the playground offers  the children other alternatives for getting ba...
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As we are entering into the cool and sometimes wet season saving water might sound like something we only need to do in the summer. Not so. Here in Georgia we are in the third year of drought. The major reservoirs are at record low water levels and we are 10" or more behind our annual average rainfall totals. It is just as important now, in the cool weather, that we use less water as it is in the summer. If we don't, our reservoirs will start the year even lower than the did last year. Here are three easy and low cost ways we can save water inside the home:   1) Replace old fixed shower heads with low flow  hose fixtures.They can be found starting at about $10 and it only takes a few minutes to remove the old shower head and install the new one. This saves water two ways. First, the new...
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Athens home sales volume took a sharp dip in October sliding downard almost 3-1/2% from the previous month and a whopping 31.4% since the beginning of the year. This contrasts the bottomming trend that was indicated in August and Septemeber. Whether the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, which took affect Oct. 1, and the newer Economic Bailout will have a reversing impact on this will be seen in the next two months. The good nes is that the  median sales price has remianed relatively flat and is still up 7% for the year. The average sales price . 1. The average sales price, while down almost 1% from last month is still up over 5% for the year. The averagve Days on the Market (D.O.M.) has again risen by 3 days. The following chart shows the sliding 12 month figures: Date DOM  Average    ...
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